Oct 25, 2020 - Science

In photos: Washington state crews destroy first murder hornets nest in U.S.

Rebecca Falconer

Washington State Department of Agriculture workers, wearing protective suits remove a vacuum a nest of Asian giant hornets from a tree on October 24, 2020, in Blaine, Washington. — Washington State Department of Agriculture workers, illuminated by red lamps, vacuum a nest of Asian giant hornets from a tree in Blaine, Washington, on Saturday. Photo: Elaine Thompson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Heavily protected crews on Saturday dismantled the first Asian giant hornet nest found in the U.S., the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) confirmed in a statement declaring: "Got 'em."

The big picture: The invasive species commonly referred to as the "murder hornet," typically doesn't harm humans unless provoked, though it has been known to kill people in Japan. The insect poses a major threat to local honeybee populations. But the WSDA said in a statement that the nest removal "appears to have been successful."

A scientist displays a canister of Asian giant hornets vacuumed from a nest in a tree behind him on October 24, 2020, in Blaine, Washington. — Sven Spichiger, WSDA managing entomologist, with a canister of Asian giant hornets vacuumed from a nest in a tree behind him in Blaine. Photo: Elaine Thompson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

A Washington State Department of Agriculture workers holds two of the dozens of Asian giant hornets vacuumed from a tree on October 24, 2020, in Blaine, Washington. — A WSDA worker holds two of the hornets, which can deliver painful stings to people and spit venom. Photo: Elaine Thompson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Neighbors look on in the early morning hours as Washington State Department of Agriculture workers vacuum a nest of Asian giant hornets from a tree on October 24, 2020, in Blaine, Washington. — Neighbors watch workers vacuum the nest, discovered earlier in the week after crews spent weeks searching, trapping and using dental floss to tie tracking devices to the hornets. Photo: Elaine Thompson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Jenni Cena, pest biologist and trapping supervisor from the WSDA, sets a trap designed to catch the murder hornets in Bellingham, Washington, in July. Photo: Karen Ducey/Getty Images

Go deeper: The murder hornets are here